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Aug 2024
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andyb
Aug '24

Don't tell anyone that Kaleb Ort was in the Phillies org this spring.

— Matt Winkelman ( @Matt_Winkelman ) August 27, 20241

I thought the name was familiar. We picked him up on waivers over the winter but he lost his spot when we signed Merrifield. Baltimore picked him up. He was lousy in AAA and got waived again in late May when Houston got him. He is 32 years old and has never really stuck with anyone, but has been great so far with Houston and was sitting 98 tonight. Lots of command issues but you see why the Phillies liked him.

EastFallowfield
Aug '24

Buddy Kennedy is a grandson of Don Money, btw

If you look at video of him you'll note, as Matt Gelb does, that he's built like a linebacker

billgtrman
Aug '24
1

Good morning. I remember as a kid Don Money. I believe he was a 3rd baseman and pretty good hitter, and really good fielder too. Not in the same elite group as Mike Schmidt, but good to see one of his younger kin or ‘‘family” in the Phillies org. I looked it up 4x All Star for the Milwaukee Brewers. Very good just not a Hall of Fame inductee unfortunately

zambonir
Aug '24

Schwarber had 10 SBs in 2022. He just wasn't the same last year.

andyb
Aug '24

What is interesting is that the FS1 telecast said the home plate umpire actually had the best grade/score for strike accuracy in MLB prior to the game. He might have just had a bad day.

This is kind of why I want robo umps (am open to a challenge system). Calling balls and strikes is really hard and we see all the errors with a box in real time. If we have the technology for a box we can do the automation. Same thing happened with base calls. Time for MLB to figure it out (or outlaw the box on their telecasts).

bkeich
Aug '24
zambonir

Funny you mention that, I just noticed that our “pretty fast” catcher has gone from 21 SB 2 years ago to 1 this year.

Age?
Told him not to keep going?
Decision to not push it?
Little injury?
Injuries last 2 years?

I wouldn’t be surprised to find out someone decided, JT, you don’t need to do that, you are doing enough. We need other things from you. Maybe a small leg or ankle issue? Maybe just JT deciding himself that it wasn’t worth the risk.

andyb
Aug '24

JT had knee surgery already this year and the knee was bothering him almost from day 1. Sometimes the better part of valor is discretion. JT's sprint speed on Statcast has actually been pretty stable (28.6 last year, 28.5 this year).

For the curious, here are the Phillies. Trea has dropped a bit but is still fast as he is another player picking his spots to run. Schwarber is the slow guy in the lineup. Bohm is no longer average as he has slipped a bit.

zambonir
Aug '24
bkeich

I wonder if the manager and front office decided to run less last year as a strategic decision as well. Obviously this year JT was injured/had surgery. It stands to reason he was creakier last year. His place in the order/situation probably a factor too.

Patchmk88
Aug '24

Yup looked up at work today and meant to refresh. So far the ump behind the plate in this game has also favored the Astros.